The phrase,'Unsound Transit', was coined by the Wall Street Journal to describe Seattle where,"Light Rail Madness eats billions that could otherwise be devoted to truly efficient transportation technologies." The Puget Sound's traffic congestion is a growing cancer on the region's prosperity. This website, captures news and expert opinion about ways to address the crisis. This is not a blog, but a knowledge base, which collects the best articles and presents them in a searchable format. My goal is to arm residents with knowledge so they can champion fact-based, rather than emotional, solutions.

Transportation

Monday, September 18, 2000

2000 Election: State Ballot Measures - Arguements For and Against Initiative 745

The following arguments were prepared by committees appointed in accordance with state law. The Office of the Secretary of State is not authorized to edit statements, nor is it responsible for their content.

Statement For I-745 Statement Against I-745SINCE 1986, WASHINGTON'S BUILT ONLY 47 NEW MILES OF ROADS WHILE POPULATION CONTINUED TO INCREASE

We have the 3rd worst traffic congestion in the country because road capacity has not kept pace with population growth.

I-745'S FUNDING FORMULA (90% FOR ROADS, 10% FOR ALTERNATIVES) MATCHES HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET AROUND

Cars and trucks account for 94.6% of all transportation trips - alternatives, like buses, account for just 5.4%. The Office of Financial Management estimates we currently spend 70% of our transportation taxes on roads and 30% for alternatives. They spend 70% of your money on something you use 95% of the time! The vast majority of us need the freedom and flexibility only a vehicle can provide - I-745 simply requires lawmakers to allocate our taxes based on reality. But this doesn't mean we abandon people who need transportation assistance. Under I-745, alternative modes of transportation will continue to receive substantial funding totaling $1 billion every two years. I-745 is exclusively a transportation initiative - it doesn't affect funding for schools, police, or other non-transportation programs. I-745 won't raise your taxes - sufficient tax revenues exist, including Washington's $1tax surplus, to reach the 90-10 ratio required under I-745.

By widening arterials, installing efficient on-and-off ramps, and increasing road capacity at our major bottlenecks, we can solve our traffic problems and improve Washington's air quality. It's not that we can't fix these problems, we simply haven't tried.

Transportation agencies' performance is currently not measured. I-745 enables our State Auditor to see if our transportation dollars are being spent effectively. This will ensure accountability and efficiency. More than 270,000 citizens signed I-745. Please join them and vote "Yes" and let's get Washington moving again.

For more information, call 425.493.8707 or visit www.i-745.org.

AgainstWASHINGTON STATE HAS A TRAFFIC PROBLEM - I-745 WILL NOT SOLVE IT. I-745 WILL MAKE IT WORSE.

I-745's 90% for roads is a "one-size-fits all" solution to our state transportation problems that will not work. Real traffic solutions require providing people with choices that include both good roads and good public transportation, including buses, ferries, and rail. Roads are important, but taking the money away from public transportation to fund them will only make traffic worse.

WE NEED CHOICES. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR MANY AREAS.

I-745 dictates that 90% of all transportation funds go to one solution - roads. It also puts politicians and bureaucrats in Olympia in the driver's seat - giving them control of our local transportation funding. I-745 limits our options. If roads are the only transportation priority, other choices like transit will be severely cut. With less public transportation more people will be forced to drive, putting even more cars on the road. Seniors, disabled people, and those unable to drive will lose their ability to get around.

LOCAL CONTROL IS NEEDED TO SOLVE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS - I-745 TAKES AWAY LOCAL CONTROL.

Recently voters in Grays Harbor, Clallam and Island Counties have voted to support public transit as a choice in their community. I-745 would send that money - along with other locally approved funds from around the state - to the State Legislature, to be spent on roads. The will of the voters in those communities would be ignored.

WHO REALLY BENEFITS FROM PASSAGE OF I-745? ASPHALT PAVING COMPANIES - NOT US.

"Washington Citizens for Congestion Relief" was founded by the Asphalt Paving Association of Washington. With help from oil companies, they paid over half a million dollars to buy signatures to get I-745 on the ballot. They will make millions and we will still be stuck in traffic.

For more information, call 206.343.4491 or visit www.No745.org.

Rebuttal of StatementFor I-745 With continued increases in population, expanding our road capacity is the only cost-effective way to solve our traffic congestion problems. I-745 doesn't abandon alternatives, like buses (they'll continue to get $1 billion every two years). I-745 simply requires spending to match usage, meaning most transportation spending will go toward critical infrastructure that benefits everyone (road construction, maintenance, lane extensions, bridges, car-carrying ferries, arterials, on-and-off ramps). I-745 ensures better roads and long-overdue performance audits. Vote "Yes." Rebuttal of StatementAgainst I-745 Asphalt pavers bought the signatures to put I-745 on the ballot. Their campaign and their studies make claims that are misleading and inaccurate. Washington's transportation problems need a solution that includes both road improvements and transportation choices for local communities. I-745's requirement that all transportation funding be split 90%-10% does not allow us to maintain real transportation choices. That's why seniors, business, churches, labor, the disabled, and conservation groups, recommend voting No on 745.Arguments For I-745Prepared By

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